Using Facebook as a Dance Instructor

As a dance instructor and troupe leader, I often used Facebook to manage the the troupe and any training content that my students may have needed. Facebook was an ideal platform for class communication. The majority of my students and troupe members already had Facebook. If they did not, they eventually realized that in Tallahassee, people rely on Facebook to stay in the loop about events and happenings in the city. So, they end up signing up for a Facebook account. On Facebook I would regularly post class updates and cancellations on my profile. Students and troupe members also often contacted me through Facebook messenger. It was a very convieient way to contact me. I was very active on Facebook through my computer, so they knew I'd reply right away, whereas I sometimes would forget my phone, so it would take some times before I'd see calls or messages on my phone. I also made a private Facebook group just for troupe and student access. In the froup, I created folders for class videos and troupe choreography. I also created pages for class contacts, location, and payment information. I wanted it to be a one-stop shop for all the information they needed. If they couldn't reach me immediately, they could go to the group page for information or ask other troupe members.I Facebook groups also allow members to create polls. This came in handy to receive feedback from group members about group activities or any decisions needed to be made. For example, if I receive an invitation to perform at an events, I would check how many people are availible to perform at that event. I'd then share that number with the event organizer, so they know what to expect. Facebook Groups allow members to share a variety of files including, text files (doc, docx, pdf), audio files (mp3, wma), and video files (mp4, avi, wmv). Users may also post sharable links to videos and audio via Youtube. Posting links to videos in the group gave each member and opportunity to practice at home on their own. I noticed that without access to the videos, the ladies would forget the choreography, thus slowing our progress during each rehearsal. With the videos, they were more prepared, and rehearsal went more smoothly. Using Facebook as a learning platform worked very well. It was convieient for everyone and easily accessible. It allowed to to customize the platform to meet our needs. Best of all, it was FREE! I'm currently not teaching lessons, but if I did, I'd use this approach again... As long as it's free.